Monsignor Enrique Díaz Díaz shares with Exaudi readers his reflection on the  Gospel of this Sunday, June 21, 2026,   entitled:  “Hear me, Lord, for you are good .”

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Jeremiah 20:10-13:  “The Lord has saved the life of his poor from the hand of the wicked.”

Psalm 68:  “Hear me, Lord, for you are good”

Romans 5:12-15:  “The gift of God far outweighs the sin”

Matthew 10:26-33:  “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body.”

It’s a question I’m often asked: ” Why do you continue walking among the communities without any protection when there’s so much danger? Aren’t you afraid?”   And I answer them with the words of Jeremiah:  “The Lord is with me.”  Why do we live with so much insecurity? Why does fear paralyze us? The good disciple of Jesus embarks on an adventure and takes risks in bringing the Gospel. Fear and insecurity are our daily bread and one of the greatest concerns of our time. We can’t leave home, we can’t walk safely, we can’t even trust those closest to us. We doubt everyone; distrust has taken root in our hearts. That’s why the insistence of today’s Gospel reading strikes me so strongly:  “Do not be afraid.”  Jesus says this to his apostles, who were truly facing grave dangers, as he gives them instructions when he sends them on their mission. He wants courageous, bold, and committed missionaries. He urges them not to be overcome by discouragement, fear, or the criticism of others. It is even understood as a warning not to fear the armed groups and forces that arose from both sides: from Rome to keep the tributary peoples subjugated, and from the countless rebellions that sought to attack and harm Rome. And, in the midst of the conflicts, the messengers of the Gospel. How could we not be afraid? Only with the strength of the Lord.

Jeremiah was a prophet who suffered persecution, who felt abandoned, and whom everyone attacked for his message. His pleas to the Lord, who tempted him to proclaim His message, are famous. However, in the passage we read today, we find words of hope and confidence in the Lord’s strength despite the whispers and threats. His trust is in the Lord:  “The Lord, a mighty warrior, is at my side.”  Jesus repeats the invitation not to be afraid several times because He knows the problems and difficulties of both those times and today. His teachings aim to instill strength and courage in the face of rejection or persecution. Each time He invites us not to fear, He mentions the reasons why the witnesses of the Gospel should not be afraid. Thus, each expression,  “Do not be afraid,”  is followed by a new reason. First, the Gospel possesses an unstoppable force, and the message that Jesus has entrusted will ultimately be made public. Secondly, the disciples are placed before the final judgment to help them understand that gossip, rumors, and human judgments are not definitive, but only God’s judgment. Their fate does not depend on the esteem in which they are held by others, but on their genuine faithfulness to God’s love and Word. Finally, the greatest assurance is established: we are in the hands of God, the provident Father, whose care extends to overcoming unimaginable extremes. The Gospel, the truth, and the love of God the Father are the reasons Jesus offers for his disciples’ security.

Laws have been tightened and new punishments imposed, but does this improve our confidence? On what do we base our security? We build fortresses, install new locks, double locks, and alarms; and we end up prisoners of ourselves, with the enemy within our homes. We fear those who kill the body and harbor those who kill the soul. Social fear, suspicion of everything, insecurity, and the need to defend ourselves and for each of us to find our own way out of life are growing among us. But we often neglect what is essential. We bring envy and pride into our homes, a superficial valuation of others; lies are used, deception and prostitution take place… We fear those who kill the body, but we offer space and welcome to those who kill the soul. Fear makes it impossible to build a more humane society; fear destroys freedom; fear binds and impoverishes.

Let us contemplate Christ: He knows how to live in conflict, yet He does not lose His peace. He is very aware of the dangers His disciples will face, and that is why He wants them to base their security on the Good News that is proclaimed, on the truth that is proclaimed, and on the love in which we trust. Jesus’ attitude challenges our lives and our values, especially regarding what we do every day, and particularly in education. We are not educating in true values, in service, and in love. From childhood, children acquire fears and insecurities, anxieties and desires that are not those Christ proposes. We want to cure illnesses with external remedies, but we do not go to the inner person. When a heart is empty, how can we convince it to strive for great ideals? When one has learned to depend on material things at all times, how can we ask them to be enthusiastic about Jesus’ project, which asks us to love everyone? When what matters is what others will say, how can we build a sincere and upright heart? Fame, money, and pleasure are the criteria that children learn at home. And then they feel unprotected because there is not enough money to forge a true man or a true woman if values ​​have not been sown in their hearts.

In silence we approach Jesus, we converse with Him, we tell Him our fears, our certainties, and with Him we discover whether we are giving more importance to those who kill the body or those who kill the soul, whether we have entered the spiral of violence. What do we think when Christ tells us not to be afraid and offers us the loving arms of a provident Father as our security?

Good Father, You are our guardian, You are our rock, You are our security. May we place our trust in You alone. Amen.